More charges for accused thief

Police have recovered even more items from the home of an alleged thief, including a computer stolen from a Sandwich police cruiser.

Matthew Nadler

Police have recovered even more items from the home of an alleged thief, including a computer stolen from a Sandwich police cruiser.

During a second search Thursday of the home of Tyler Parker, at 36 Maple St., police recovered a number of items stolen in a series of car break-ins in Wareham. More than a dozen cars were robbed in a single August day.

Also found in the house was a laptop computer taken from a Sandwich police cruiser while officers in that town were dispersing a party in July 2006. Parker was present at that party but was not considered a suspect in that theft.

Police Chief Matt Clancy said the stolen police computer is a mobile data terminal that is “pretty much standard equipment.” Connected to a computer at a police station, it’s used to check licenses or run warrant checks. The computer, he said, is password protected. Once the computer went missing, its connection with police headquarters would have been cut off.

Bourne and Sandwich police participated in the Maple Street search. Parker has been charged with additional counts of receiving stolen property and possession of the stolen police laptop.

Plympton Police first searched Parker’s home, along with an apartment on Cottage Street in Wareham, on Dec. 8, which resulted in Parker’s arrest. That same day, State Police executed a search warrant at a home on Pope’s Farm Road in Carver. Both raids netted items stolen in the recent break-ins.

Parker and his associates employed a variety of methods in the burglaries, Clancy noted. While there was one case of forced entry into a home, in other instances the alleged thieves simply entered unlocked homes and vehicles. Break-ins happened in daylight and at night, said Clancy.

A variety of items was stolen, including musical equipment, electronic gear, cash, jewelry and even a snow blower. In one case, said Clancy, the thieves stole so much stuff they used a truck.

Also charged in the case was Joseph O'Brien, 33, of Carver. O’Brien, who is being held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in another matter, was charged with receiving stolen property and breaking and entering in the daytime.

Sandwich police have charged Parker with the actual break-in of the police cruiser.